Nayland in Suffolk

Visit Nayland and the surrounding villages and stay in bed & breakfast accommodation:

Nayland, Suffolk. A village set in beautiful country by the River Stour, and at one time a busy cloth town. The bridge over the Stour into Essex was erected by William Abell who also made considerable additions to the Church of St James in the early 16th century. Perhaps one of the most interesting features of the church is the altar-piece painted by John Constable, who was born nearby in East Bergholt. The subject is Christ blessing the bread and wine and it was painted early in his career in 1809. It may be compared with his still earlier painting of Christ and the Children painted in 1804, and now in the Church of St Michael at Brantham.

At the south end of Church Street is Alston Court, which dates from the 15th century and has magnificently carved timbering, especially the barge-boards. Various additions were made to the building in the following centuries. Inside, the finest rooms are the hall, dining-room and solar, all of which have fine beams and notable carving. In the market place may be seen an obelisk milestone and a number of attractive cottages and inns.